Resource Access Negotiations Program (RAN): assists First Nation communities with negotiations to: access business and employment opportunities in major resource projects; attract investment in on-reserve natural resources; access off-reserve natural resources; and manage off-reserve natural resources. Negotiations are expected to lead to agreements that will enhance employment and business benefits from resource-based opportunities.

Total funding provided in fiscal year 2002-2003: $1,451,464

Projects funded under the RAN program in the Manitoba Region during fiscal year 2002-2003 include:

1. Chemawawin Cree Nation - Manitoba Conservation and TOLKO Forestry Industries Management Negotiations - To negotiate an agreement with TOLKO to co-manage three Forest Management Units in central Manitoba for a five-year period.



2. Chemawawin Cree Nation - Denbeigh Point Silviculture Initiative - To negotiate an agreement with TOLKO to grow seedlings locally in a greenhouse to re-forest the logged areas of TOLKO Forestry Industries.
3. Chemawawin Cree Nation - Cedar Lake Fishery Environmental Monitoring Initiative - Environmental monitoring initiative designed to ensure fish stocks are sufficient to support the Cedar Lake commercial fishery on a yearly basis.



4. Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation - Forestry Development Negotiations - To identify and access forestry resource opportunities within and around the First Nation's traditional land use area, including the possibility of the First Nation's co-management of resources.



5. Long Plain First Nation - Simplot Irrigation Project Initiative - To negotiate with Simplot Canada to provide 6,000 acres of First Nation land with irrigation to lease to local potato growers at the Simplot Portage la Prairie Potato Processing Plant.



6. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak - Missinippi Exploration & Consulting Company - Mining Exploration Initiative - To identify and carry out mineral exploration and staking activities within and around the First Nation's traditional land use area.



7. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak - Missinippi Construction Company CNR/Omni Trax Land Acquisition Initiative - To negotiate, purchase and operate the railway system from Pukatawagan to Sherridon.



8. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak - Northlands First Nation Resource Management Participation - To initiate negotiations with the Saskatchewan Denesuline on the sharing of traditional land use resources overlapping between the two Nations through the dual participation in "National Denesuline Economic Symposium."



9. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak - Local Lumber for First Nation Housing Proposal - To develop a preliminary plan for the negotiations of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) leading to long term commitments to optimize the use of local lumber for the construction of First Nation housing and to access unallocated off-reserve resources.



10. Marcel Colomb First Nation - Management of Off-Reserve Natural Resources - To establish a consultation process that will maximize the First Nation's participation and consultation with its members by formalizing a community contact with Manitoba Conservation regarding the disposition of lands and resources within the First Nation's traditional land use areas.



11. Opaskwayak Cree Nation - Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Implementation Proposal - To negotiate and consult with First Nation members, other interested residents and third parties located within its traditional territory to incorporate the concerns and interests into the negotiations to finalize the co-management agreement for implementation.
12. Pine Creek First Nation - Lake Winnipegosis Fishery Revitalization Negotiations Proposal - To establish a framework to revitalize the Lake Winnipegosis Fishery in partnership with Manitoba Conservation and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans through the utilization of the expertise of local traditional resource users.



13. Red Sucker Lake First Nation - Monument Bay Staking - Mining Exploration Initiative Proposal - To stake mining claims and negotiate to secure their rights for the possible development of mineral exploration within the First Nation's traditional land use area.



14. Sagkeeng First Nation - Shoreline Remedial Works Negotiations - To Prepare a shoreline remedial works plan feasibility study and/or business case to bring forth partners for the next phase of the "reserve Shoreline Erosion Stabilization Works."



15. Southeast Resource Development Council - Little Grand Rapids/Poplar River/Pauingassi First Nations - Joint Co-operative Areas World Natural & Cultural Heritage Designations Initiative- Little Grand Rapids, Poplar River and Pauingassi First Nations joint effort to negotiate with local, provincial and federal governments for the "World Natural & Cultural Heritage" designation status for protected areas within the three First Nations' traditional land use areas via the United Nations designation process.



16. Brokenhead First Nation - Urban Land Acquisition Negotiations - To negotiate with the City of Winnipeg for a land acquisition to establish a commercial development site with the objective to convert the site to an "urban reserve" which is consistent with the City of Winnipeg's economic development plan.



17. Brokenhead First Nation - Investment Negotiation Activities Proposal - to conduct "investment negotiating activities" to create the necessary legal agreements and structures to oversee the development of community controlled lands.



18. Tootinaowaziibeeng First Nation - Sand and Gravel Initiative - To investigate the possibility of using mineral (sand, gravel, clay) deposits on-reserve to construct roads, buildings, landfills, lagoons and utilities at the First Nation.



19. West Region Tribal Council - Wildlife Management and Access to Outfitting Opportunities - To negotiate with Manitoba Conservation and the private sector to access a share of non-resident sport hunting licences currently being allocated to non-Aboriginal outfitters in the region.



20. West Region Tribal Council - Dauphin Lake Commercial Fishery Licence Buy-Out Negotiations - To negotiate with Manitoba Conservation for the voluntary buy-back of commercial fishing licences on Dauphin Lake currently held by non-Aboriginal fishers for reallocation to West Region Tribal Council First Nation member commercial fishers.



21. West Region Tribal Council - Manitoba Conservation Relationship Restructuring Initiative - To develop a draft Memorandum of Understanding with respect to wildlife management and expansion of the West Region Tribal Council co-management Terms of Reference to include wildlife.



22. Barren Lands First Nation - First Nation Northwest Regional Tourism Strategy - To negotiate development of an inter-community tourism based partnership strategy between the Barren Lands First Nation, Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, Northlands First Nation, Sayisi Dene First Nation, Marcel Colomb First Nation and the towns of Leaf Rapids, Lynn Lake, South Indian Lake, Kinoosao and Granville Lake.

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